Sunday, 9 July 2017

Silver-Studded Blue?

John Frame sends these two pictures. He writes, "I was enjoying a nice walk with mum and dad along Bay MacNeil today when I spotted this. From a quick Google search I think it's a silver-studded blue male, but I'm neither a photographer nor a butterfly enthusiast, so happy to be corrected. No idea if it's common or rare."

The Butterfly Conservation website says of the silver-studded, "Males blue with dark border. Females brown with row of red spots. Undersides brown-grey with black spots, a row of orange spots, and small greenish flecks on outer margin. Males similar to common blue, which lacks greenish spots."

John's butterfly lacks a dark border, so it's more likely to be a common blue. Further, the silver-studded doesn't appear to be found north of North Wales. But both John and I would welcome some help!

Yes, I agree Common Blue. SSBs have silver 'studs' inside the black dots on the underwings; also a much more pronounced band of orange. They also don't have the little white patch this one is showing in the middle of the lower underwing - a feature of Common Blues. Doesn't make him any less delightful though!

About Kilchoan

Kilchoan is a remote Scottish crofting village at the westernmost end of the Ardnamurchan peninsula, a two-hour drive to the west of Fort William. Its white houses are strung like pearls around a wide bay, looking out across the Sound of Mull to Tobermory. The year-round population of the village itself is just over a hundred, but this diary writes about all the villages of western Ardnamurchan, including Portuairk, Sanna, Achosnich, Achnaha and Kilmory.

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Copyright: All photos were taken by Jon Haylett unless otherwise acknowledged. Individuals are free to copy and use all Jon's photos and words under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike Licence v3.0, terms here. If you use any of the pictures please give an attribution and a link to the Kilchoan Diary. Media should check with Jon on kilchoandiary@btinternet.com

Contributionsare welcomed from both local residents and visitors. Contact Jon Haylett at kilchoandiary@btinternet.com - no attachments with the first email please.

The author of A Kilchoan Diary is Jon Haylett. To read more about him, click here, and to see some of his most popular photographs, click here.

Otters Holt Holiday Cottage, Kilchoan

Situated in the village of Kilchoan and on a hilltop facing south with panoramic views over the Sound of Mull, this comfortable and spacious accommodation sleeps up to six. Set in an acre and a half of ground, wildlife sightings, including pine martens, are common. Click on the picture for full details.

Croft Apartment, Kilchoan

Peaceful and spacious upstairs apartment in traditional croft house in Kilchoan, with stunning views across Kilchoan Bay to Mull. Within easy walking distance of the Tobermory ferry and Kilchoan shop. Self-contained, with own garden, central heating, linen, electricity included. Sleeps 2/3. To book, click on the picture.